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City Partners with Greater New Britain Arts Alliance for "Bees Across New Britain"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 6, 2017

NEW BRITAIN—The City of New Britain is working with the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance to bring anexciting new public art project to the community that’s called “Bees Across New Britain.”

Similar to the “cow parade” in West Hartford several years ago, “Bees Across New Britain” will feature 6’ highbees that will be painted by artists. Private donations and sponsorships are funding the project.

A maquette, or model of the bee, was developed by renowned sculptor and New Britain resident CraigFrederick. The design was based on sketches made by Mayor Erin Stewart. The maquette will be sent to afabricator, who will transform the model into 6-foot tall fiberglass bees in the months ahead.

“Bees Across New Britain is a playful nod to the many worker bees who have played a role in the developmentof our City over many generations,” said Mayor Stewart. “This projects expands upon our vibrant arts scene,pays homage to our City’s rich industrial past, and invites residents and visitors to come ‘Experience the New’in our community.”

Donors, businesses, and local organizations are being sought to sponsor a bee. For $2,500, a sponsor will workwith an artist to design a bee, which the sponsor will get to keep at the end of the project. At a $2,000sponsorship level, the bee will be auctioned off at the end of the project and will be placed at the location of thepurchaser’s choosing. Proceeds from the project will benefit the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization.

Stephen Hard, Executive Director of the GNBAA remarked: “One of the things I am most happy about is ouridea, apparently novel, to split the auction proceeds with the artists. This makes it possible for more artists toconsider our project. We want everyone: artists, sponsors, and the public to be absolutely thrilled with whatthey see.”

Installation of the bees are scheduled for late spring of 2018. As part of “Bees Across New Britain,” a series ofcommunity events will take place around the project, including the development of a map featuring all thelocations of the bees, and more.

To learn more about sponsoring a bee, visit www.happeninghere.org and click on the bee icon.

A formal call to artists will be forthcoming over the next several weeks.